Medco Health Solutions, Inc. released its 2009 annual drug trend report, which found that spending on drugs for children 18 and younger rose 10.8 percent in 2009, more than any other age group.  According to the report, spending for the general population rose 3.7 percent in 2009.  Medco attributed the increase to a combination of higher drug prices and a 5 percent increase in prescription drug use by youths.  The report also found that 26 percent of those under 19 and 29 percent of kids ages 10 to 19 were taking medication for a chronic condition.

From the report:

The number of new high-cost drugs that were approved in 2007 and 2008 also drove unit-cost growth during 2008, with about one-third of the new drug introductions for high-cost drugs that treat cancer, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and various immune-related or orphan conditions. In addition, many of these new high-cost drugs were within the specialty category.

Full report: http://medco.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=64&cat=5

Medco. (2010). 2009 drug trend report: the great healthcare debates - prescriptions for meaningful reform.